mindmachine

I will make it another 2 cents to yours. First I just got my 08 RX 400h and I love it, would do it again in a heartbeat. Secondly thanks to you guys discussing how terrible the Goodyear/Michelin OEM's are I made a deal with the dealer to take off the OEM tires before delivery and give me $700 back and i bought a set of 5 Bridgestone Alenzas from a local Firestone dealer and delivered them to the Lexus dealer for free installation prior to taking delivery. It is not my first set of Alenzas either, I have another set on my 07 Acura MDX and they are really nice tires, smooth ride good handling and great wear characteristics, not to mention good in wet and snow handling too. A little story about the tire change at the dealer, when I ordered the car I made the deal to change the tires up front, dealer said no problem, when the car came in with the Goodyear brand the salesman called and said they couldn't do the tire deal because the parts department manager said we dont want the Goodyear's (unspoken assumption on my part is Michlen's would have been ok). I said thats a problem I already bought the Alenzas and a deal is a deal, we shook hands on it. So the next day the manager called me back and said yes a deal is a deal and we will keep our word.

I just took delivery of my 08 RX 400h in Brandywine Mica earlier this month and I love the color, I considered the the Matador Red Mica too, but it was too red and not enough metal flake for me, however I agree it would have been my second choice. Whoooah !! I thought brandywine Mica & Matador were the same. THAT's what MY spouse lusts for. That's a great pic! I'm sending it to the boss right now. She'll turn 3 shades of green :P THANKS! I saw the color on a RX 350 in August last year at the dealer before I ordered, he said he orders that color a lot and frequently they get hijacked at the port by other dealers that have customers wanting it. I guess when a dealer orders a car it is fair game at the port/in transit unless it is already sold like a special order?

I ordered my Brandywine Mica color and all the options I wanted including the Mark Levinson sound system which they almost never stock. I waited three months to get what i wanted on special order because I want a car to be equipped exactly the way I want it if I am going to spend that much money on it and have it a few years. I almost always do a special order.

I just took delivery of my 08 RX 400h in Brandywine Mica earlier this month and I love the color, I considered the the Matador Red Mica too, but it was too red and not enough metal flake for me, however I agree it would have been my second choice.

Don't you mean the RX 400h wont be a 2009 mod, the RX 350 for 09 is already on showroom floors now and it hasn't changed. The pebble beach is an 09 mod and the website already shows the RX 350 as an 09 that is unchanged essentially from the 08 and we know the RX 350 body change therefore will have to be a 2010 mod in the spring of 2009 at the earliest and the hybrid version probably wont be out then till fall of 2009 as a 2010 mod or possibly even a year later for a 2011 model?

You are mistaken only by the designation, it will be the RX 600h-SS, it will sticker for a base of $104,000, has to be ordered with a mimimum of at least $12,000 worth of options in the USA and at only 20mpg city/hwy, when gas hits $5.20 for premium (a gallon) this fall no one will buy them. Personally my 08 RX 400h is fast enough, if anything I want even better fuel economy with even more electric running capability on the next generation. Smaller engine no, larger engine not needed either, the present one is big enough, does the qtr mile quicker than a Porsche Cayenne S now geezzzzzes! If anything it needs an improvement in the suspension to match it acceleration capability, something more like the Porsche Cayenne S

I just purchased a 08 RX400h instead of the HH and instead of waiting for the next version of the Lexus hybrid. I was considering waiting on the next Lexus revision, but from all my research I am finding out that the next gen RX 350 gas will be a 2010 and the next gen RX400h wont be out to till 2011 mod year at the earliest, plus the new RX hybrid is supposed to be bigger and heavier and include a third row seating setup. I went ahead because I want the current mod without that added weight and size and third row seats filling up the cargo area. I owned a Lexus Land Cruiser with third row seats a few years ago and I never used them and they were always a pain because they took up valuable space and were in the way when you wanted to carry a big item. I considered removing them completely, but then where do you store them so they dont get damaged and be in the way at home. The current mod RX 400h is the right size as far as i am concerned. Last I went with the Lexus for several reasons, 1. I wanted a Lexus and the 4 year warranty, 2. I wanted the added luxury the Lexus brand provides over the Toyota, 3. I wanted the extra service you get with a free loaner for everything they do warranty of just routine services, 4 My Lexus dealer provides free maintenance, oil changes and tire rotations,, ect. in 5000 mile increments thru 40,000 miles 5. I dont like the colors offered for the HH but do like two of the Lexus current colors offered. I have purchased both other Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the past and I value the Lexus experience over the Toyota, however I cant really complain about any of the Toyota's I have owned, but I feel the Lexus overall experience has been worth the extra cost to me. It really depends on what type of of experience you want and what size vehicle you need. However as far as waiting, well gas prices just keep going up and I suspect the price of the next gen Lexus 400h will probably go up quite a bit and will bein high demand when it first comes out. Plus I dont like getting the first year of a new generation, I prefer to wait for the first year bugs to get worked out. My 2 cents anyway, good luck, and I feel either one is not a bad choice. Oh by the way, my first interstate driving trip with my RX 400h averaged 30.1 MPG, now that was highway only with 48 deg F temps and driving at between 58 to 68 MPH. This was the consumption meter reading in the car, not an actual fill up.

Well I have to say you should do a lot more research for yourself. I just got my 2008 RX 400h, they dont make a RX450h, anyhow inthe 400h there is really no lost space so to speak since the batteries are under the rear seats and they are very thin, no real lost storage space. As far as extra cost, well on my trip home today on the freeway (48 deg F temp) from the dealer I got 30.1 MPG. now that was what the trip computer said not actual fill up, but you do the math, with gas projected here in the mid west to go to around $4.00 gal likely and possibly even close to $ 5.00 gal by this summer. Well I am super happy with my investment. Having said all that I already have a 2007 Toyota Prius, I really like it too. As for the GS450h well the car version does suffer on lugage space, by the way that is GS450h not GX450h. I consider the GS450h but passed on it due to limited cargo/luggage space and I really like SUV's Good luck!

Yeah, but then you're not getting that outstandind Lexus dealership service that everyone seems to prize. :whistles: I didn't make this number up- Lexus of Stevens Creek wants $199 for a routine 5K service visit. By the same token, you wouldn't need to pay $2K to have brakes serviced as in a prior poster's example. That's just as crazy as a $200 oil change. Hi, I hate to make you guys cry, my dealer gives free service for the first 9 service intervals (includes 1000 mile) / 8 oil and filter changes thru the first 40,000 miles including all recommended services including tire rotations, differential oil and all other inspections outlined in the manual. TOTALLY FREE. I did not realize how valuable it was going to be. Also my dealer has held the elite service seal for quite a few years running now too, and I have to say their service has always been outstanding.

I dont know why but the Matador Red looks off in some pictures, I think this is a better representation of the color. only too bad it wasnt a littel brighter the day I took the picture.

When we looked on the website before we bought, I thought I'd like the Brandywine best. When I got to the dealer and saw both in person, it was the Matador Red hands down. The Brandywine is a deep red burgundy with a brownish hue. The brownish hue is what I didn't like. Yes it does have a brownish hue to it and that is what I did like. To each his own on color, but likewise the Matador red was just too red for me with not enough metallic. The matador red reminded me of the 05 Acura Redondo Red Pearl only with a little less metallic and no pearlescence too it. However the world would be a dull place if we all liked the same color!!

I also have the Matador Red Mica - and in fact was the first one in the DC area. I love it! None of the 2005/2006/2007 model colors really did anything for me, and as soon as I saw the Color swatches in the 2008 brochure, I knew that the Matador Red was the one I wanted. It sure is a great color!! I considered the Matador Red too, but liking Burgundy/Maroon Metallic I decided on the Brandywine Mica. I wont have it until sometime in late February since I wanted the Mark Levinson sound system I had to special order my RX 400h back in November. At that time they had a 08 RX350 in the Brandywine on the lot so I took a picture of it. If I can figure out how i will post it. In the second picture you can see my wife sitting in our (her) 07 Prius the Lexus will be mine, she is totally uninterested and hates to go with me when I buy a new car. After I closed the deal the dealer told me that their allocation of RX 400h vehicles for the Midwest averages only 4 per month per dealer. :whistles:

Well just my 2 cents worth is you are over thinking an oil change, I am sure the dealer doesn't do all that and considering that the engine components will still retain an oil film in the critical contact areas from the previous oil. Just change the filter and oil and fill to the designated amount per the manual and start the car. Pull out of the driveway and/or go around the block and pull back in and check for leaks. Pulling the injector fuse and cranking the engine over to build pressure and such is really not necessary the engines are not that sensitive today and the current oils (especially the synthetic blends) we are using today leave a film that will lubricate for several miles even if the crankcase is empty. so again IMHO stop sweating unnecessary details and just change the oil, run it and top it off after the test drive if you are a bit short. Error on the side of less is better as you dont want to overfill. Finally I just don't do a cold drain. :whistles:

Yes nice work and I agree with the calculations from an engineering standpoint, but!!!!!! Your calculations say what is possible in theory. It still comes down to the programming of the synergy drive system as to how much torque is allowed to be applied to the wheels at any time based on the formulas used by the Toyota engineers. The programming of the computer power allocation synergy drive system is still an unknown. Oh and yes i agree, this is why you need to be careful about buying any after market wheels for the car, as for me I will use nothing but OEM wheels designed for the 400h. Your calculations confirm the tire wear issues are due to an over abundance of torque and if you have a heavy foot you are going to pay in tire wear.

First that isn't ft-lbs.. it' newton-meters and the conversion factor is like .7375622 I believe. However this is why the wheels on the RX 350 aren't suited to the RX400h. So 751 newton meters equals 552.55 ft-lbs of torque.:whistles: 550 ft lbs of torque should give you whiplash. Our 400h's have a good amount of power but I don't see how anyone can claim they have 550 ft lbs of torque. I won't believe it until I see some credible evidence. The best evidence I have so far is driving the car. There is NO WAY our cars have 500+ ft lbs of torque. Well you would have to take that up with NeoN it's his data i am only telling you the data he posted is equal to 553 ft-lbs of torque, no as an engineer myself, I must say you have to consider how the torque is applied and how the computer allocates the power for the Toyota hybrid system. for example just look at the GS450h vs the Rx400h. It depends on how the computer program is designed to apply the torque and how much is possible from all three sources at once. The programming of the system for power,acceleration and performance, or more reasonable performance and better fuel economy. It is entirely possible that the way the system is engineered that the full 553 ft-lbs is never available all at once, actually I would be willing to bet a sizeable sum of money on that point. It's not a Porsche Cayenne Hybrid geared toward performance primarily, it's a Lexus Scorer Mom/Dad type vehicle and probably programmed accordingly!!!!!! :chairshot: I have to say and thankfully so, I have a Porsche Cayenne S and I bought my Lexus RX400h for the decent fuel economy and decent performance it gives in an SUV size vehicle. 4365 lbs curb weight, 4 wheel drive version!!!! I have to say 6.9 sec 1/4 mile aint bad considering you can get 26 to 30 mpg highway, my Cayenne S only gets 16 to 18mpg highway and doesn't perform that much better in the 1/4 mile!!!!! The 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S only does 5.9 sec 1/4 mile what do you want? You're saying the hybrid system is "capable" of 550+ ft lbs but we'll never get to use it? 7 sec 1/4 mile?:whistles: Now THAT's impressive ;) I know what you meant. I guarantee the maximum torque at the wheels is less than 300 ft lbs, probably closer to 250. IF our cars can be dyno'd, and I still don't think they can because the hybrid system will go crazy and shut down, it would show that. What i am saying is the maximum torque of all three added together, the two electric motors and the ICE is 553 ft-lbs of torque, however that does not say that the hybrid system programming allows the combined use of all the torque at once. Nor does it imply even that the maximum torque is even available from all three sources at the same RPM and therefore not available as maximum torque (at the tires) at the same time or road speed. Bottom line is the maximum torque of all three is 553 ft-lbs, but the programming of the hybrid system I am convinced regulates and limits how much can be applied (combined) at once. For example I seriously doubt the the front electric motor and the ICE produce their maximum torque at the same output level RPM wise. I also doubt that applying the maximum torque to the front wheels would even be advisable from a mechanical point of view. I doubt the CVT is designed to handle it all at once. If you add the front motor and the ICE, the therotical front end maximum torque is 458 ft-lbs, if you applied all of this at once the torque steer effect would be a bigger complaint by owners than what it currently is. Anyway just my 2 cents worth, while I am a retired mechanical engineer I am not an automotive engineer. My expertise is large jet engines and pipeline compressors, so I am used to fluid torque. I do know however that applying torque mechanically you have to design the hardware to handle the maximum output you plan on applying plus a safety factor. Well in my opinion the Lexus RX is not designed to be a street racer and therefore not designed to apply all 458 or 553 ft-lbs of torque all at once. The key being the front drive mechanism where in theory 458 ft-lbs is available for use. OK, good write-up. BUT, even if the maximum torque was available from all three engines, wouldn't they cancel each other out, at least to a certain extent? This question is from a non-engineer. The rear electric motor is RARELY used. Even under heavy acceleration from a stop, it shuts off quickly. I assume the CVT is only used by the two front engines. When you floor it, the kilowatt gauge gets pegged and I assume the CVT in conjunction with the computer(s) regulates the RPM of the ICE and the front electric motor. What regulates the rear engine? I guess what I'm asking is: "HOW DOES THIS DARN THING ACTUALLY WORK?" Well not being a Toyota Engineer I don't have any way of knowing what algorithms they used to program the Hybrid Drive System. Once again as I said in the last three posts on this, it depends on how the system is programmed. The programming no doubt monitors many factors I am sure, like current speed, throttle position, current state of battery charge, probably outside temperature, current state of traction of the VDIM, and probably many other factors. It then takes the various factors into account and then allocates the power from each of the three sources according to the algorithms used in the performance program and design criteria.

First that isn't ft-lbs.. it' newton-meters and the conversion factor is like .7375622 I believe. However this is why the wheels on the RX 350 aren't suited to the RX400h. So 751 newton meters equals 552.55 ft-lbs of torque.:whistles: 550 ft lbs of torque should give you whiplash. Our 400h's have a good amount of power but I don't see how anyone can claim they have 550 ft lbs of torque. I won't believe it until I see some credible evidence. The best evidence I have so far is driving the car. There is NO WAY our cars have 500+ ft lbs of torque. Well you would have to take that up with NeoN it's his data i am only telling you the data he posted is equal to 553 ft-lbs of torque, no as an engineer myself, I must say you have to consider how the torque is applied and how the computer allocates the power for the Toyota hybrid system. for example just look at the GS450h vs the Rx400h. It depends on how the computer program is designed to apply the torque and how much is possible from all three sources at once. The programming of the system for power,acceleration and performance, or more reasonable performance and better fuel economy. It is entirely possible that the way the system is engineered that the full 553 ft-lbs is never available all at once, actually I would be willing to bet a sizeable sum of money on that point. It's not a Porsche Cayenne Hybrid geared toward performance primarily, it's a Lexus Scorer Mom/Dad type vehicle and probably programmed accordingly!!!!!! :chairshot: I have to say and thankfully so, I have a Porsche Cayenne S and I bought my Lexus RX400h for the decent fuel economy and decent performance it gives in an SUV size vehicle. 4365 lbs curb weight, 4 wheel drive version!!!! I have to say 6.9 sec 1/4 mile aint bad considering you can get 26 to 30 mpg highway, my Cayenne S only gets 16 to 18mpg highway and doesn't perform that much better in the 1/4 mile!!!!! The 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S only does 5.9 sec 1/4 mile what do you want? You're saying the hybrid system is "capable" of 550+ ft lbs but we'll never get to use it? 7 sec 1/4 mile?:whistles: Now THAT's impressive ;) I know what you meant. I guarantee the maximum torque at the wheels is less than 300 ft lbs, probably closer to 250. IF our cars can be dyno'd, and I still don't think they can because the hybrid system will go crazy and shut down, it would show that. What i am saying is the maximum torque of all three added together, the two electric motors and the ICE is 553 ft-lbs of torque, however that does not say that the hybrid system programming allows the combined use of all the torque at once. Nor does it imply even that the maximum torque is even available from all three sources at the same RPM and therefore not available as maximum torque (at the tires) at the same time or road speed. Bottom line is the maximum torque of all three is 553 ft-lbs, but the programming of the hybrid system I am convinced regulates and limits how much can be applied (combined) at once. For example I seriously doubt the the front electric motor and the ICE produce their maximum torque at the same output level RPM wise. I also doubt that applying the maximum torque to the front wheels would even be advisable from a mechanical point of view. I doubt the CVT is designed to handle it all at once. If you add the front motor and the ICE, the therotical front end maximum torque is 458 ft-lbs, if you applied all of this at once the torque steer effect would be a bigger complaint by owners than what it currently is. Anyway just my 2 cents worth, while I am a retired mechanical engineer I am not an automotive engineer. My expertise is large jet engines and pipeline compressors, so I am used to fluid torque. I do know however that applying torque mechanically you have to design the hardware to handle the maximum output you plan on applying plus a safety factor. Well in my opinion the Lexus RX is not designed to be a street racer and therefore not designed to apply all 458 or 553 ft-lbs of torque all at once. The key being the front drive mechanism where in theory 458 ft-lbs is available for use.

First that isn't ft-lbs.. it' newton-meters and the conversion factor is like .7375622 I believe. However this is why the wheels on the RX 350 aren't suited to the RX400h. So 751 newton meters equals 552.55 ft-lbs of torque. :whistles: 550 ft lbs of torque should give you whiplash. Our 400h's have a good amount of power but I don't see how anyone can claim they have 550 ft lbs of torque. I won't believe it until I see some credible evidence. The best evidence I have so far is driving the car. There is NO WAY our cars have 500+ ft lbs of torque. Well you would have to take that up with NeoN it's his data i am only telling you the data he posted is equal to 553 ft-lbs of torque, no as an engineer myself, I must say you have to consider how the torque is applied and how the computer allocates the power for the Toyota hybrid system. for example just look at the GS450h vs the Rx400h. It depends on how the computer program is designed to apply the torque and how much is possible from all three sources at once. The programming of the system for power,acceleration and performance, or more reasonable performance and better fuel economy. It is entirely possible that the way the system is engineered that the full 553 ft-lbs is never available all at once, actually I would be willing to bet a sizeable sum of money on that point. It's not a Porsche Cayenne Hybrid geared toward performance primarily, it's a Lexus Scorer Mom/Dad type vehicle and probably programmed accordingly!!!!!! :chairshot: I have to say and thankfully so, I have a Porsche Cayenne S and I bought my Lexus RX400h for the decent fuel economy and decent performance it gives in an SUV size vehicle. 4365 lbs curb weight, 4 wheel drive version!!!! I have to say 6.9 sec 1/4 mile aint bad considering you can get 26 to 30 mpg highway, my Cayenne S only gets 16 to 18mpg highway and doesn't perform that much better in the 1/4 mile!!!!! The 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S only does 5.9 sec 1/4 mile what do you want?

First that isn't ft-lbs.. it' newton-meters and the conversion factor is like .7375622 I believe. However this is why the wheels on the RX 350 aren't suited to the RX400h. So 751 newton meters equals 552.55 ft-lbs of torque. :whistles:

You can all you have to do is a special order, and only order the exact options you want. I ordered mine on Dec, 1st and it is supposed to be here around the end of February, 08. I ordered everything just like they are normally equipped in the northeast with Navigation, Mark Levinson, premium plus package, wood trim, heated seats, rain sensing wipers, towing prep and 18" alloys. I also got a nice discount off of MSRP but did have to put down a 10% deposit. :whistles: yea but your in ohio, anyone in the NYC area doesn't even have access to the ML equipped RX400h's. They said it would require a 6 month delay which is ridiculous Oh I did not know that, that is ridiculous. Is the demand for the RX00h that high in NY? My understanding here is that my three month wait is from order to actually build and deliver. What do you have to pay in NY are they charging a premium due to high demand too? Merry Christmas

You can all you have to do is a special order, and only order the exact options you want. I ordered mine on Dec, 1st and it is supposed to be here around the end of February, 08. I ordered everything just like they are normally equipped in the northeast with Navigation, Mark Levinson, premium plus package, wood trim, heated seats, rain sensing wipers, towing prep and 18" alloys. I also got a nice discount off of MSRP but did have to put down a 10% deposit. :whistles:

Consider using a synthetic/conventional blend then, many oil companies sell both the pure synthetic and a synthetic blend. I personally use the pure synthetic in my Porsche Cayenne and I use a blend in all my other cars. Actually I prefer the bend because I like changing my oil more often and the blend is a lot cheaper than the full synthetic. I also think that since the oil companies sell a blend I dont see why you should have any problems adding regular oil to the pure synthetic in a pinch.

You are loosing MPG because your larger diameter tires are aproximately 3.6% larger in diameter and therefore your odometer is registering less miles than you are actually covering. so your 25.4 mpg you got recently should be mutiplied by 1.036 and you actually got 26.31 MPG. Typically 255/55 tires are 29 or even 29.1 inches in diameter and the recommended tire size is 235/55 is 28.2 inches in dia. so the larger diameter tire goes less revolutions to cover the same distance and hence you are driving 1.036 x 387 miles or 401 miles actually when your odometer read 387 miles. Also because they are bigger/wider they probably have more rolling resistance and hence may lower your gas mileage. With the correct tires you probably could get at least 27 MPG or better based on your report of 25.4 mpg with your current set up. :chairshot:

:chairshot: There are many in my opinion. Driving a 400h I would think you would understand, its really is a work of art both conceptually, intellectually and environmentally. A green top of the line luxury car with full time 4 wheel drive and all the power anyone would ever want and fantastic gas mileage considering. I own a Prius and am planning on getting a 08 RX 400h later this year, so to me it's all about being green whatever your persuasion and wallet. Hey if even 35% of the people on the planet drove the likes of the 600h, 400h, 450h and Prius, just imagine how much cleaner the air would be and the reduction in greenhouse gases. SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE MONEY TO BLOW ON A LUXURY GREEN MACHINE! Better than buying a Mercedes with a V12 I say.